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I ignore the comment from Charlie, the guy with the laptop. I allow him to camp out and write what I’m sure is the great American novel because he orders a lot of coffee.
He says this as the morning rush levels out, and I take a moment to tidy up the place.
“Can I get you another coffee?”
I don’t kick him out even though it chaps me that he sits here for hours.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Okay, let me know.”
I maintain the professional veneer while I sweep up. Charlie and I were in the same grade at Darling Creek High School, and he was a bit of a tool back then too.
“Guess you don’t want her finding out about that mess,” Charlie says, his face gleeful as he types away at his screen.
“It was over five years ago. Everyone, including Mariam, has moved on,” I say, leaning on my broom. “Or haven’t you noticed? She’s happily married to my dad, and they have two kids together.”
Charlie pauses his typing. “Oh, sure. Everyone’s moved on.”
I go back to cleaning up while his keyboard clicks away.
A strange feeling settles in my chest as I head to the back to check on my current batch of roasting beans.
Maybe there’s a kernel of truth in what Charlie says. Oh, he’s still a tool. But I should probably tell Meredith about my past. No matter how much of a non-issue it is now, she deserves to know the whole story about me. She might hear things before I have a chance to explain.
I switch off the roaster and prep the canisters for storing as soon as the beans are cooled.
That’s it. Tonight, I tell Meredith everything.
ChapterTwelve
Meredith
The boss stops me as I head to the staff meeting.
“Hold on. Has it been 24 hours since you vomited?” Donna asks, blocking my path to the conference room.
I roll my eyes. “Yes. And I already told you it wasn’t a virus.”
“Fine. But you’ll go to the doctor this weekend,” she says, finally moving aside so I can join the meeting.
Jessica gives me an excited smile when we make eye contact, and I can feel Donna’s eagle eye on us. Fortunately, the focus shifts away from me while Jessica, Holmes, and Franny update the group on their stories.
Finally, my turn comes. After giving an update on a few of my ongoing projects, I say, “Everyone? I have an announcement to make.”
Franny pipes up, “Oh, we know!”
My eyes immediately shoot over to Jessica, who blurts, “I said nothing!”
Holmes puts in, “Nothing about what? You knew she was dating that guy who dated his stepmom?”
I have no idea what that means. “Excuse me, I’m dating Nate Jones.”
He nods. “Yeah, and according to The Drop, that guy tried to date his stepmom or something. You should be careful.”
I’m confused. “The Drop? What’s that?”
Donna huffs caustically. “That’s right. You were gone yesterday when that so-called news website launched. The Drop is nothing but an online gossip rag about Darling Creek and the surrounding area. I don’t know what we were worried about. It’s nothing but trash.”
